I think that the issue is that if an artist set a high price, people wouldn't go back because it was a high price (ostensibly, despite that they would go back if it was a low price that they tipped upon).
I think the breakdown here might be that some artists own the shop and some artists pay a booth rent or a percentage of the overall pay. So while some artists get to keep everything they charged you, some might have to split it with the shop owner. Probably best to discuss this stuff up front and know the whole situation. I could understand an artist splitting the gross pay or paying a booth rent hoping for a tip.
Unfortunately in places where someone rents out a space like hairdressers or tattoo artists, tips are a big part of how they sustain themselves, at least in some setups.
Yeah I don't get why americans act as if they're the only nation that pays taxes, rent or whatever. Generally, majority of the world operates that way. People just set the prices that work for them with that in mind.
If the shop owner is taking 40% of your earnings (a common split for shops is 60/40), raising your prices to compensate doesn’t effectively negate the problem.
If a tattoo is $1,000, the shop owner takes 400, leaving you with 600. If you raise your prices to $1,500, now you keep 900 (90% of the previous price of $1k) and the shop owner gets 600. However, a 50% increase in your prices is going to mean sticker shock for people walking through your door, and your prices are likely outpacing the dozens of other artists in your area. Unless you’re very fucking good, most folks are going to go someplace else.
1) some places limit what you charge or give you a range.
2)higher cost of the service itself will not solve the initial problem. If 30% goes to the shop/salon, then charging more means you're still paying out to the salon a lot. If you go by tips, the hairdresser or tattoo artist keeps a lot more.
Okay, so their price should take into account their operating costs. They should charge enough to cover that. Why charge less and hope for tips to cover their expenses?
If the parlor demands a 50% cut of jobs, and the artist needs $100 to break even on supplies, they have to charge the customer $200.
Alternatively, the artist can charge the customer $150, and hope for a $30 tip, which is technically a win-win sort of situation in an absurdly capitalist sort of way.
If the parlor demands a flat $50/day for the booth and overhead, then the artist needs to charge you $150 pretty straightforward.
So on and so forth, scaled up for whatever profit the Artist hopes to make.
Oh so your cool-guy hypothetical in your own comment would never happen then because they won’t let you in their chair to begin with? Well you sure showed them, in your own fantasyland.
That must be a US problem. I have a few tattoos and never encountered an artist expecting a tip. They will bill you the previously agreed price, you pay, have them take a few pics for their insta, have a cup of coffee and a chat, then leave.
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u/Designer-Chemical-95 9h ago
They do. Some get really upset when you don't tip though.